Scratch: Kessel, Hnidy and Montador
6:41 p.m.Contrary to previous reports, NESN is reporting that Manny Fernandez will start in goal. Pogge in goal for Toronto.
6:36 p.m.
Tears on Huntington Ave...The Northeastern Huskies have ended their season. Cornell scored three straight goals, including one very late in the third period, to put the Huntington Hounds down, 3-2.

The loss ends one of the best seasons in Northeastern history.

My sincere condolences to everyone at Matthews and to my friends over at Conor Larkins.
6:28 p.m.

Yesterday, after practice, the media gathered to listen to the B's bench boss talk about his club's "vacation." Click on the link to the right to see the whole presser.

"I think it's been a good week," said Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien. "I like the way we practiced.

"We seemed to have our jump and we seemed to be executing well.

"So, the only thing left to do now is to carry that into [the Toronto] game," he said.

Julien was not corcerned about rust going into the tilt with Toronto.

"I don't think so," said Julien. "I think we did enough things this week in practice that were scrimmage related."

In fact, the mental break may be much more of a help than a hinderance.

"I think there is no doubt that the mental break will be a positive," said Julien. "Right now, it's [time] for us to show that the layoff is not going to effect us."
6:03 p.m.
It's almost game time...Here is a little update on the Leafs, courtesy TSN:The team held an optional skate on the heels of Friday's loss in Buffalo. Justin Pogge will get the start for Toronto. Defenceman Jay Harrison will also play, having joined the team after spending the year in the Swiss elite league. The team has assigned Ben Ondrus and Anton Stralman to the Marlies of the AHL. Forward Nik Hagman returns after missing a month due to concussion.
5:59 p.m.Man oh man. I am flipping between the Northeastern vs. Cornell game and the BU vs. OSU hockey games. That, my friends, is a lot a red and white uniforms. NU leads 2-1 and BU/OSU has just started.
5:13 p.m.

James vanRiemsdyk University of New Hampshire Wildcats NCAA

The UNH Wildcats have advanced.

After tying the game with .01 seconds left in regulation, UNH scored in the overtime to put at least two Hockey East teams in the final eight of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. They dropped North Dakota 6-5, just 45-seconds into the first overtime.

BostonBruins.com Intern Angela Latona, whose alter ego is that of a college student, is at the NCAA regional in New Hampshire, says that the atmosphere in Manchester is "ridiculous."

Meanwhile, the Northeastern Huskies, who play out of Matthews (nee The Boston) Arena, have just gone up 2-0 on the Cornell Big Red.
2:16 p.m.

Thomas at UVM

Speaking of not needing to be reminded of the importance of any games, our friends, dorm mates and neighbors from Hockey East and the Beanpot are busy this weekend.

The day in Hockey East (and the Hub of Hockey) looks like this:New Hampshire vs. North Dakota at 2:00 p.m.
Cornell vs. Northeastern at 4:00 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Boston University at 6:30 p.m.
Air Force vs. Vermont at 6:30 p.m.
Bruins vs. Maple Leafs at 7:00 p.m.

Tim Thomas' Vermont Catamounts beat Yale 4-1 on Friday night and will advance to the Frozen Four with a win over Air Force, who themselves upset Michigan -- sorry to Aaron Ward and Matt Hunwick.

All of this takes a little bit of the sting out of not being scheduled to travel to Ontario, because it means I can be in four places at once and cheer on New England's finest hockey teams.
1:53 p.m.

Ward at Michigan

All week, the Boston Bruins preached that they were not going to take the Toronto Maple Leafs lightly, particularly since Canada's team had been on a bit of a roll lately -- not to mention that the contest is on Hockey Night in Canada in front of God, Don Cherry and everyone.

"I wouldn't take [tonight's game] from any perspective beyond the fact that they are playing very well right now," said veteran defenseman Aaron Ward on Friday. "They've beaten upper echelon teams like Washington and are playing with a lot of character right now.

"So it's a game where we have to prepare ourselves as well as we did against New Jersey -- if not better."

I asked Aaron if he felt that the veterans on the Bruins had to give the younger players on the Bruins any sort of reminders about taking the Leafs for granted.

"No, I don't think at this stage, reminders are necessary."

Judging by the mood in the room this week, I tend to agree. 12:09 p.m.
The Toronto contingent reports that Tim Thomas is the first goalie off.
12:01 a.m.
The Bruins are in the midst of their optional morning skate. Most of the Bruins are participating and both goalies are on the ice.